Heat distributor

ABSTRACT

A heat distributor for positioning on the burner of a gas range or the like and supporting a vessel in which food is to be cooked is disclosed as consisting of a metal disc having a downturned annular rim thereabout and a plurality of upstanding, spaced parallel flanges arranged in a circumferential pattern on its uppermost surface. Depressed areas in the inner portions of the flanges define a circumferential area in which a wire ring having oppositely disposed V-shaped center sections may be disposed so that various sized vessels may be received and retained on the heat distributor.

United States Patent 1191 Nodae Apr. 23, 1974 HEAT DISTRIBUTOR [76] Inventor: Louis Nodae, 3023 Northgate, Primary Exammer.E,dward Favors Youngstown, Ohio 44505 Attorney, Agent, or F1rm-Webster B. Harpman [22] Filed: July 24, 1972 57 S C [21] Appl. No.: 274,834 g A heat distributor forpositioning on the burner of a gas ran e or the like and supporting a vessel in which g n a e [52] U S Cl 7 126/215 food is to be cooked is disclosed as consisting of a [51] In} .0 15/10 metalvdisc having a downtumed annular rim there [58] Field of seal-e1 15811215, 50,221 about and a pluiality upstanding spaced Parallel flanges arranged in a circumferential pattern on its up- [56] References Cited permost surface. Depressed areas in the inner portions of the flanges define a circumferential area in which a UNITED STATES PATENTS wire ring having oppositely disposed V-shaped center 2,565,726 8/1951 Garrison 126/215 e tion may be di po ed so that various sized vessels 1 g e may be received and retained on the heat distributor.

anes....,. I 1,114,087 10/1914 Wilbur; 126/215 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 7 1 HEAT DISTRIBUTOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of' the Invention This invention relates to heat distributors such as are positioned on a gas range and support a vessel thereover so that the heat from the flame will be evenly distributed to the bottom of the vessel.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior structures of this type have employed various disc arrangements, some of which are unbroken and others of which are apertured. Still others incorporate circular flanges, some of which are continuous and others of which are broken, (see for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,948,123, 2,196,624 and 2,513,011).

This invention eliminates the circular pattern of the flanges heretofore used as means of distributing the heat from the burner beneath the device and substitutes a plurality of highly efficient spaced, short parallel flanges arranged in a circumferential pattern adjacent the peripheral edge of the heat distributor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A heat distributor comprises a metal disc having a downturned annular rim thereon and a plurality of short, upstanding, parallel flanges spaced with respect to one another and positioned in a circumferential pattern extending inwardly from the peripheral edge of the disc together with a ring having oppositely disposed V- shaped extensions 'defininga flat vessel receiving surface disposed on said flanges and acting to hold a vessel in spaced relation to the metal disc.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the heat distributor; and

FIG. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2- 2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest form the heat distributor takes the form of a metal disc 10 having a flat, large central area 11 and an annular rim 12 disposed downwardly about the peripheral edge of the disc 10. A plurality of upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges 13 are formed in an annular pattern circumferentially of the metal disc 10 on its upper surface and extend between the outer limits of the flat central area 11 thereof and the peripheral edge thereof. Each of these upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges 13 is provided with a depressed section 14, the several sections 14 defining an annular pattern in which a ring 15 is disposed. The ring 15 is cross sectionally circular and has a pair of oppositely disposed V-shaped sections 16 formed thereon. The uppermost and lowermost surfaces of the V- shaped sections 16 and the ring 15 are horizontal and the lower surface of the ring 15 is disposed in the several depressed sections 14 in the flanges 13 so as to be securely positioned on the heat distributor.

By referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that each of the parallel flanges 13 on the outermost sides thereof are apertured as at 17 and that the next pair of flanges l3 inwardly thereof are depressed as at 18 inwardly of the ring 15.

By referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the bottom of the metal disc 10 is recessed as at 19 so as to define the annular rim 12 heretofore referred to and still referring to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that heat, as from a gas burner below the heat distributor or an electric heating element below the heat distributor, will heat the metal disc 10 and that heat exchanged therethrough will rise from the uppermost surface thereof primarily as radiant heat. A vessel in which food is to be cooked is-placed on the upper surface of the ring and will therefore be spaced above the flat, central circular area 1 1 of the metal disc of the heat exchanger by reason of the ring 15 being supported on the upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges 13.

It will further be seen that heat currents occuring by convection will be forced to flow evenly across the bottom of a cooking vessel positioned on the ring 15 so that both the radiant heat and the convected heat delivered by the heat distributor to the cooking vessel will i be even and characterized by lack of hot spots which would tend to burn the food in the cooking vessel.

It will thus be seen that an improved heat distributor has been disclosed which provides for converting heat from a burner therebeneath to controlled even radiant heat and that convected heat rising from the upper surface thereof is equally advantageously distributed.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without deparing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A heat distributor for a gas range or the like and consisting of a metal disc having a plurality of upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges arranged in a circumferential pattern thereon in an area extending inwardly from the peripheral edge thereof approximately one-third the diameter of said disc and a downturned annular rim formed on said metal disc.

2. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein the innermost portions of said upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges are depressed, a ring positioned on the depressed portions of said flanges, extensions on said ring positioned inwardly thereof in oppositely disposed relation and spaced with respect to said disc.

3. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein a pair of said flanges extend along the peripheral edge of the disc and are apertured transversely thereof.

4. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein a pair of said flanges extend along opposite peripheral edges of the disc and are apertured transversely thereof and wherein the pair of upstanding flanges inwardly thereof extend continuously-across the metal disc and have their middle portions thereof depressed with respect to said ring. 

1. A heat distributor for a gas range or the like and consisting of a metal disc having a plurality of upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges arranged in a circumferential pattern thereon in an area extending inwardly from the peripheral edge thereof approximately one-third the diameter of said disc and a downturned annular rim formed on said metal disc.
 2. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein the innermost portions of said upstanding, short, spaced, parallel flanges are depressed, a ring positioned on the depressed portions of said flanges, extensions on said ring positioned inwardly thereof in oppositely disposed relation and spaced with respect to said disc.
 3. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein a pair of said flanges extend along the peripheral edge of the disc and are apertured transversely thereof.
 4. The heat distributor set forth in claim 1 and wherein a pair of said flanges extend along opposite peripheral edges of the disc and are apertured transversely thereof and wherein the pair of upstanding flanges inwardly thereof extend continuously across the metal disc and have their middle portions thereof depressed with respect to said ring. 